I realize it’s been a while since I posted a review, but hey, I’m a student of limited financial means here!

The good news is that Seattle is full of terrific deals where you never have to compromise luxury just because of cost. For example, take Japonessa, conveniently located in the heart of downtown Seattle. Their selling tagline is that they’re a “sushi cocina,” a gourmet restaurant that cooks Japanese food with a hint of Latino flair.

Honestly, I see nothing Latino about this place and I’ve eaten here a few times. However, that doesn’t mean that this place isn’t a standout star in the city’s culinary scene. The big deal about Japonessa’s menu is their sushi. There are a few places in the city that serves gourmet, original, awe-inspiring sushi concoctions and this menu has got to be one of the best.

No, indeed, this is not your average sushi eatery; in fact, I never touch the soy sauce and the wasabi because I seriously do not want to muddle the flavor combos. Each roll is beautifully handcrafted to look to good to eat. With the fresh, colorful ingredients and the masterful touch, the price understandably stands approximately between $12-20 per roll.

Fear not, though, dear Seattleites. This is where the beloved Happy Hour really comes in. And by happy hour, I don’t mean one where you receive 20% off an item if you buy another one at full price. Japonessa’s happy hour is mindblowing because you can get these delicious rolls at only $4 a pop!

Of course, not the whole menu gets their prices slashed (unfortunate, since the Super Bad Boy roll is smashing). Still, you’re not losing a touch of greatness at all, since even their happy hour rolls are mouthwatering.

Once you’re done devouring your sushi, make sure to save room for Japonessa’s selection of delightful deserts. I’m quite picky when it comes to sweets, so I mean it seriously when I say that I’m in love with this restaurant’s selections. With each visit, I try to order a different desert, like the tempura ice creams or the sake infused sherberts.

However… the bright star remains to be the green tea tiramisu. So soft and flavorful, this cake will melt in your mouth and become a memorable notch in any foodie’s experience.

At lunch a couple days ago, a meal consisting of 5 rolls, 2 miso soups, a plate of garlic short ribs, and the green tea tiramisu came to only $50… which included the tip! It’s really hard not to fall in love with Japonessa.

–

Japonessa: Sushi Cocina
www.japonessa.com
1400 1st Avenue, Seattle
(206) 971-7979 ‎

Friday night. Work was tiring and I had nothing else to do, so I grabbed a couple of friends and ventured to the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood of Seattle. The strip of down-to-earth bars, small and friendly restaurants, and quaint niche stores abound, I didn’t know where to go–so many great choices!

Quick calls and my friends and I were told to try Kabab House, an Indian/Pakistani restaurant that I knew has garnered positive reviews from food critics and Seattle residents. And off we went.

It was a small establishment: a square room with only eight tables, yet every seat was filled. The decor was modest and sparse. There was no music that makes you feel like you walked into a badly produced foreign film. But the minute I stepped foot into the place, the scents overwhelmed me–in a good way. I was impatient and mentally salivating.

I realize now that I should’ve tried the kababs (well, duh) but all of us seemed to be hungry for some rich curry dishes, which led us to order the Lamb Vindaloo, Lamb Jalfrezi, Mango Chicken, and a couple servings of Garlic Naan, plus some mango and sweet lassi for drinks.

They all look so good, right? Well, try to control yourself, dear reader.

Kabab House indeed lived up to their riveting reviews, in my experience. HOWEVER–this is a big however–our dishes took a whopping 45 minutes to come! I understand that they are made to order, and this is what many have loved about this place. But personally, I feel that 45 minutes is a tad too long to make a customer wait, especially in a restaurant where the smells are intoxicating and you can’t help but look at your neighbors’ dishes and… tell your growling stomach to shut up already.

Finally, the dishes came and it was fairly late in the night for a dinner meal, so there was nothing left to do but devour our food. My friends and I sampled each other’s dishes, our eyes glazed and our faces happy with each bite.

“Worth the wait?” I asked them.

“Definitely,” they said, chewing hungrily.

THE BREAKDOWN

• Jasmine rice: Smelled great, tasted fresh. It was cooked perfectly, I can tell, so I have no complaints here.

• Lamb jalfrezi: Great sauce, and great dish to pair with the jasmine rice. The dish looked tasty, and it definitely was not lacking. In my opinion, the vegetables were a little soft–a tad overcooked, maybe? A dish of tender meat and sauce definitely calls for vegetables that are more on the crisp side, I say, since it would create a nice balance of textures.

• Lamb vindaloo: Perhaps it was because I was way hungry, but this was a heavenly dish. The sauce was rich and the spice was top-notch. One of my friends said that it was a bit strong for her, so maybe it is not the dish for the spice-weary. But since I grew up on heavily-flavored foods, I didn’t mind it one bit. The lamb was tender and not dry or chewy, which I’ve had in the past with other Indian restaurants. If there were no one around, I probably would’ve licked it all.

• Mango chicken: If you are afraid to venture into the dark side, then this would make a perfect choice. Perhaps you are a first-timer of Indian and Pakistani cuisine, or maybe your stomach is not up for handling heavy spice. In any case, the mango chicken is not as strong as the other dishes of the night, but that doesn’t mean it was not delicious. It was mild and a little bit too sweet for my taste buds, so I did want a little bit of a kick. Still, it wasn’t a bland dish, and by the end of the meal, I still wanted to finish every drop of the sauce.

• Garlic naan: Thank goodness for naan. What a great piece to have by itself and to use as a utensil for my sauce-cleaning tendencies. There was no way I would waste any of the mouthwatering sauces, and these doughy creations sure came in handy. The texture was good, with a nice crisp on some parts. It smelled amazing, but there was not enough garlic, so it tasted more like plain naan. Nothing terrible though, considering that we still managed to eat it all.

In the end, my friends and I sat back in our chairs fully stuffed. Okay, a little bit too stuffed. I didn’t know how that was possible because the portions were not very large, but there we were, our stomachs expanded, clearly satisfied with the experience.

Before our food came, a waiter kept coming to fill our water. But afterwards, we didn’t hear a peep until they gave us the bill. Well, I guess I didn’t mind that. There seemed to be three people working: the host, the waiter, and the cook. As long as the food delivers, then I’m good.

Overall, Kabab House is a gem and a great place to come back to; just make sure you are in the presence of great company who can help to fill the waiting time with good conversation. Next time, I’m gettin’ me some of those famous kebabs.

–
Kabab House
www.kababhouse.com
8202 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle
(206) 782-3611
Dishes are no more than $16. Appetizers are $6 and under, and sides and drinks are $2.50 and under. Proteins include chicken, lamb, seafood, goat, and beef.

…Try finding a warm inviting space with rich wooden panels, cozy seating and free Wi-Fi; not to mention delicious coffee made from small batch roasting, homemade baked goods and hand-sourced teas. So where can you find all that in one stop? Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Company is just the place. One visit here and you’ll understand why finding a seat can be a tricky business; people of all ages can be seen having a chat, completing homework assignments or working their way though the daily crossword at all hours.

Almost too pretty to drink!

It’s easy to settle in at Zoka and spend an entire afternoon sipping delicious coffee made by baristas that certainly know their way around an espresso machine. Beautifully adorned with “latte art” the drinks at Zoka are especially pleasing to the customers. Zoka offers some of the highest quality, artisan coffees roasted in small batches to ensure first day freshness; it is obvious why they are considered to be one of the best places around to get a cup of joe.

With the sunny summer weather still failing to make an appearance these damp days are the perfect excuse to duck out of the rain and into a warm coffeehouse. Squeeze in amongst the regulars with their faces aglow from caffeine and laptop light and take a moment to enjoy a little pick-me-up yourself. Whether stopping in for a quick visit or to linger a bit, Zoka is certainly a great place to find shelter from the dreary drizzle.

Zoka Coffee
2200 North 56th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 545-4277
www.zokacoffee.com

Nestled on a side street of Fremont sits an old brick building; it doesn’t look like much, but appearances can often be deceiving. Take a minute to investigate it further and you’ll realize the unique thing about this building is that it smells like a giant brownie. Now you may wonder why there are wafts of chocolaty goodness blowing in the breeze luring in passersby left and right. The reason is simple. Theo Chocolate calls this place home; proudly holding the title of the only organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States.

It's hard to go wrong with these tasty morsels!

Inside the small shop fresh made chocolate truffles and chocolate bars are displayed, as well as numerous other chocolate products available for purchase; lotion, beer & wine chocolate pairing kits and sipping chocolate just to mention a few. Marble slabs are placed on the tables with little nibbles of their luscious chocolate in various flavors enticing the customers to linger a while and try their delicious wares. Sample some of their intriguing flavor combinations like the Coconut Curry (milk chocolate with toasted coconut and savory curry spices), Bread and Chocolate (dark chocolate with buttery, toasted artisan breadcrumbs), Nib Brittle (dark chocolate with organic roasted cocoa nibs in sweet & crunchy brittle) or one of the fabulous Origins bars which have distinctive flavors depending on the region the cocoa beans came from. Scope out the goods and browse the list of chocolates on display while you decide which of the sweet tidbits will be finding its way home with you.

Or you can do more than just graze; Theo Chocolate offers a variety of events and classes to participate in! Did someone say Yoga & Chocolate and Ice Cream Socials? Oh and don’t forget the popular factory tours either. Join the other customers near the fireplace as they excitedly await the start of the next tour. A tour which is not only interesting and educational, but a great way to spend a rainy Seattle afternoon for just $6! You get to sample bits of chocolate throughout the entire tour! They offer public tours 7 days a week, but it’s best to call ahead and make reservations due to their popularity. It is guaranteed to be the best time you’ll ever have in a spiffy blue hairnet! So swing on by and try some purely delicious chocolate….and remember dads like chocolate too and Father’s Day is just around the corner.

Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Ave. N.
Seattle, WA
(206) 632-5100
www.theochocolate.com

 …is proudly emblazoned across the shirts of the staff at Po Dogs and it won’t take long before you come to same conclusion. These hot dogs are amazing! Po Dogs offers up some seriously creative gourmet hot dogs for your munching pleasure. They start with high quality selected meats made from the finest locally sourced ingredients and stick them between deliciously soft and flavorful buns. Steamed then grilled fresh, these hot dogs would be wonderful on their own, but Po Dogs takes it a step further offering over 25 different toppings for the customers to create a winning wiener. With choices ranging from fresh mango and banana to bacon jam and hot peppers, customers can have a brand new experience every visit or simply re-create their favorite. 

Texas Dog is topped with melted Tillamook cheddar, homemade crispy onion straws and a Smokey BBQ Sauce!

If the staggering amount of topping choices makes you a bit antsy, try one of their internationally researched specialty dogs. Take a bite of the Dub-T dog topped with creamy cheese sauce, crushed potato chips, mustard and ketchup. Or be brave and try the Deep Fried Danger Dog; this dog is wrapped in pepper bacon, deep fried then topped with sauteed onions and a homemade spicy chili sauce! 

Wasabi Egg Roll Dog is wrapped in wonton paper then deep fried and topped with homemade wasabi aioli.

Either way, those at Po Dogs certainly aim to please and will let you arrange your hot dog however you like. Oh and one more thing….you can buy one of those awesome “I Heart Wieners” t-shirts! 

Chocolate Old Fashioned, Rainbow Sprinkle and Double Trouble

Nothing seems to induce a larger smile on people’s face like the colorful sprinkles atop a doughnut. A stand out among the others’ dull brown coatings, rainbow sprinkle doughnuts simultaneously induce a flood of childhood memories and drool. They are the ray of light in the doughnut box, a sweet moment on a rainy morning; rainbow sprinkles make the doughnut world go round. Luckily for us in Seattle, Top Pot Doughnuts commits itself to creating these and over FORTY other different varieties of quality morsels. Not to mention they do things the old fashioned way with a secret 1920′s recipe and a beautiful attention to detail (including those colorful tidbits). Hand-forged gourmet doughnuts and hand-roasted coffee are paired perfectly in gorgeous vintage shops around the city, providing a uniquely delicious opportunity to approach the old “coffee and doughnuts” routine in a new way.

Worth the wait in line!

There are five different locations, as well as a charming airstream mobile unit from which to pick up these delightful treats; so give into your sweet tooth and try one! With so many choices it may not be easy to choose, but it’s hard to go wrong.

Top Pot Doughnuts
Capitol Hill
609 Summit Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206)323-7841
www.toppotdoughnuts.com

Growing up, when it came to manners, there was always an endless stream of wisdom paired with healthy doses of scolding at the dinner table; “chew with your mouth closed,” “eat your vegetables,” and of course, “don’t play with your food.” It was always one rule or another, but really who decided we shouldn’t play with our food in the first place?

Peanuts and Pints

At the Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse manners are gently nudged aside and in their place, a fun and rebellious spirit takes hold. Inside the flood of conversation and laughter echoes around sturdy wooden beams and the open plank ceiling in this nautical themed alehouse. A casual crowd lingers over pints of fresh brewed beer and the crunch under foot are the remnants of peanuts placed on every table. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to discard your peanut shells on the floor here; a freedom which at first is a bit disconcerting, but eventually quite liberating! But please keep in mind that the haze of peanut dust on every surface may just put a damper on the dining experience for those with severe peanut allergies.

Steamy, meaty goodness!

The peanuts, however, are just the beginning. With the introduction of the Stonegrill Concept into various portions of their menu, Diamond Knot enables their customers to take a unique interactive approach to their meal. Searing hot lava rocks (about 750 degrees F) are presented with raw meat, sides and sauces for your cooking pleasure at the table. You’ll never want for that perfectly cooked steak again! But if the idea of starting your meal with a piece of raw meat on your plate makes you a tad squeamish, try ordering one of their hand thrown pizzas to accompany your delicious pint instead. Either way, sit back, relax and play with your food…no one will scold you for it here.

Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse
621A Front Street
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425)355-4488
www.diamondknot.com

Much to the surprise of many I meet, my formative years were spent in a suburb just outside of Dallas. I am often greeted with “But you don’t have an accent” and “Did you ride a horse to school?”. I will assure you that, while Texas is indeed a very foreign-feeling place to yuppie-fied hipster city folk like myself, it’s not as backwater as you’d think. Plano is actually a very flat, boring suburb with a bizarre 50-50 mix of shiny over-the-top malls and crumbling shopping centers.

As such, good food is kinda hard to find in Plano. Most restaurants are soulless chains, and those that are independent look like soulless chains. Lots of neon, insane decorating schemes, giant vinyl-covered menus, you get the idea. When I come to visit my folks, who a few years ago moved back to Plano after a stint in Washington state, I pretty much bank on never going out, unless it’s for Korean at one of the local Asian markets, or my own mother’s reliably effing-delicious Korean dishes.

And while my mom’s a fantastic Korean cook (I’ve not yet met a dish hailing from that tiny country that matched the quality of her variations), her take on classical and American food is decidedly less homespun. Growing up, there was a lot of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Shake ‘N Bake, and more Tuna Helper than a picky seafood-resistant child (such as myself) could handle. Thanksgiving, in my home, always meant a parched turkey, gummy mashed potatoes, Stouffer’s stuffing, and that awful jellied purple stuff claiming to be “cranberry sauce”. No disrespect to my mother, who labored alone for days to provide us with a giant spread befitting the great American tradition. But I think it’s pretty typical in a lot households to regard Thanksgiving as that holiday where you make the same stuff every year, lots of it, and in the interest of stress-reduction and time, you head to prepared box mixes and button-popping turkeys and shrug your shoulders when the turkey turns out dry–after all, that’s how turkey just is, isn’t it?

Never one to succumb to such illogical culinary rules of the American culture, I endeavored to make the entire meal–from scratch–and prove that Thanksgiving isn’t a meal you feel obligated to say you enjoy, but one that you actually do. It was me now, alone in the kitchen, cooking for eight (no one but my mom really understood why I cared so much). It was hard. I got really sweaty. But my goals, though lofty–a somewhat-juicy turkey with a burnished-gold skin, creamy mashed potatoes, a cranberry sauce that required at least some jaw movement to digest, and a three-in-one dessert that screamed “Thanksgiving! Wooo!” but wasn’t cloying–were satisfyingly, deliciously, triumphantly attained.

If I do say so myself.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan-Praline Topping

Katherine Beto, Braeburn (Originally appeared in Food & Wine, November 2008)

CHEESECAKE

One 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups)
8 whole graham crackers, broken
1/2 cup pecans (2 ounces)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups cream cheese (14 ounces), at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Pecan Praline Topping (below) and whipped cream, for serving

1. Set a rack over a baking sheet and line the rack with 2 layers of paper towels. Spread the pumpkin puree over the paper towels and let drain for 2 hours, until the puree is fairly dry.

2. Preheat the oven to 500°. Butter the bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until finely ground. Add the pecans and brown sugar and pulse until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse just until incorporated. Press the crumbs onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for about 8 minutes, just until it is fragrant and lightly browned. Let the crust cool completely. (Note: I found that in my oven the crust nearly burned at 7 minutes–I recommend checking at 4 to see how it’s coming along).

3. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the cream cheese until it is very smooth. In a small bowl, whisk the sugar with the salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. With the machine on, add the spiced sugar to the cream cheese and beat until creamy, scraping the bottom and side of the bowl. Carefully add the drained pumpkin puree and beat until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl between each addition. Beat in the heavy cream, lemon juice and vanilla until the cheesecake mixture is smooth.

4. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the cooled crust and bake for 12 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 225° and bake the cheesecake for about 3 hours, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 150°; the center will be very jiggly but not liquidy. Let the cheesecake cool on a rack, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

5. Run a hot knife around the cheesecake and loosen the springform ring. Carefully remove the ring and transfer the cake to a plate. Using a warm knife, cut the cake into wedges and serve with the Pecan Praline Topping and whipped cream.

PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups pecans (8 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth. Stir in the heavy cream and salt and bring to a boil. Simmer just until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Let the caramel cool.

2. Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes, until they are lightly browned and fragrant. Transfer the pecans to a work surface and let them cool. Coarsely chop the nuts, stir them into the cooled caramel and serve.

I can only imagine the questions and snickers that the servers at Jon Davis’s new “equatorial” restaurant in Magnolia will be getting for years to come.

Seattle Weekly’s Voracious got the scoop–Davis managed the very popular Jai Thai chain for years, but he decided to turn in the hectic life of a Thai restaurant operator for a simpler, smaller joint specializing in to-go orders. The salacious name was inspired by Davis’s travels around the equator, where cock-fighting is sadly quite popular (he claims he randomly picked the name because, well, he had to pick something). Thus far, no cock will be finding its way into the food, which include a wide range of cuisines and their dishes, like pulled-pork sandwiches and various iterations of rice and beans.

Sounds like this place might have a fighting chance. Although I have to wonder how much more successful a place called Fightin’ Cock Roaster could be if it were located, say, on the Ave?

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From Voracious:

These cookies from Little Rae’s Bakery in South Park are quite impressive cookie-likenesses of the family-elect, wouldn’t you say? They especially nailed Michelle’s smile, I do declare. And you gotta love the rendition of the future First Pup, which no one can seem to stop talking about.

Pick up a pack for $9.95, or have some shipped for $15.95 (order online here–love that).